CHAPTER VII. THE BLACK KNIGHT.
Well pleased at Augier's words, which seemed to raise his heart by full a span, Jaufry spurred bravely on, and by the morrow safely reached the spot his host had named. While he was passing through the scattered tents, the knights, who stared at him, exclaimed aloud:
“Behold a man who has ridden the night long, and hastens forward, but to seek his loss.”
Seeming as though he never heard the words, he to the noble castle straightway hied; which seemed most rich, and sculptured with fine art. Seeing a portal set with marble leaves and tinged of various hues, he there got down, secured his horse, and near him placing both his lance and shield, he passed within the door. At first his eyes no other forms beheld than those which omed the walls; but as he wandered on from room to room, he came at length where lay the wounded knight, and at his couch two dames in robes of woe, and tears upon their cheeks. As he was counselled by good Augier, then he to the elder went, and prayed her courteously, in Heaven's name, to tell him where was Taulat, and why the people of that land he left did day and night so weep.
Charmed with his breeding and his knightly words, the lady then explained that Taulat, whose brutality and pride exceeded bounds, would in eight days return.
“He comes,” she said, “to glut his cruelty upon the wretched man who yonder lies. Seven years agone he with his lance did wound him cruelly; and when that wound is healed, each year, upon the feast-day of St. John, he has him fastened to a stake hard by, and beaten with a scourge until the wounds are opened once again. For this the vassals of the neighbouring land of Brunissende,—whereof this knight is lord,—weep and lament, and e'en do put to death those who would spy into their cause of grief.”
“Lady,” Sir Jaufry said, “pride slays its lord; and by that pride, I trust, will Taulat fall. In eight days' time to seek him I will come; and I can truly say that term will seem a year.”
Commending her to Heaven, he left those halls, mounted again his horse, and took his way towards a neighbouring wood, where he did trust some man to meet to lodge him in his hut. The wood was gloomy, intricate, and dense; and at the first cross-road before him, he beheld, squatted beneath a pine, a hag, whose aspect struck him with surprise.